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Report Snapshots in SSRS

A Report Snapshot is a report that contains layout information and a data-set that is retrieved at a specific point in time. Unlike on-demand reports, which get up-to-date query results when you select them, report snapshots are processed on a schedule and then saved to a report server. When you select a report snapshot for viewing, the report server retrieves the stored report from the report server database, and shows the data and layout that were current for the report at the time the snapshot was created.

In this article, I will show you how to use report snapshots in SSRS.

1. First of all open Internet Explorer and go to Report Manager URL which is something like below:

http://bhushan-pc/Reports2012

Your internet explorer tab looks like below :

2. Click on your SSRS project. In my case it is Start SSRS. So now it will show you the list of reports which are deployed on your report server.

3. Now click on down arrow on the report which you want to subscribe and select Manage as shown in below screen shot.

4. Then select Snapshot Options from left pane and you will see screen shown in below screen shot.

The following are the main points of Snapshot Options :

Allow report history to be created manually : Select this check box to add snapshots to report history as needed. Selecting this check box causes the New Snapshot button to appear on the History page.

Store all report execution snapshots in report history :Select this check box to copy a report snapshot that you generate based on report execution properties to report history. You can set report execution properties to run a report from a generated snapshot. By setting this report history property, you can keep a record of all reports snapshots that are generated over time by placing copies of them in report history.

Use the following schedule to add snapshots to report history : Select this check box to add snapshots to report history on a scheduled basis. You can create a schedule that is used exclusively for this purpose, or you can select a predefined shared schedule if one contains the schedule information you want.

Select the number of snapshots to keep : Select from the following options to control the number of reports that are kept in report history. Report history settings can vary for each report.

Select Use default setting to retain the default setting. The report server administrator controls a master setting for report history storage. If you choose this option, the number of snapshots that are retained is obtained from this master setting.

Select Keep an unlimited number of snapshots in report history to retain all report history snapshots. You must manually delete snapshots to reduce the size of report history.

Select Limit the copies of report history to retain a set number of snapshots. When the limit is reached, older copies are removed from report history to make room for newer copies.

Report history is stored in the report server database. If you have large reports or numerous reports for which you want to maintain history, consider limiting the amount of report history to help manage the disk space requirements of the report server database.